Services
Clear Guidance for Modern Network Automation.
I help organizations cut through complexity, modernize their infrastructure, and adopt automation the right way securely, efficiently, and at scale.
Topics I Discuss
Network Source of Truth (NSoT) & Data Modeling
I explore best practices for building and operationalizing a Source of Truth in enterprise and federal environments. Topics include:
Data modeling for devices, circuits, racks, and facilities
Integrating NSoT platforms with automation pipelines
Improving accuracy, compliance, and auditability
How to align NSoT data with NetDevOps workflows
Featured Talk:
Cisco Live: “Network Source of Truth – Leveraging Source of Truth Tools in NetDevOps (DEVNET-2113)”
A deep dive into how modern automation requires trustworthy data and how to build effective NSoT architectures.
Automation Frameworks, IaC, and NetDevOps
I write and speak about building sustainable automation ecosystems using modern Infrastructure-as-Code practices:
CI/CD pipelines for network automation
Version-controlled configuration workflows
GitOps patterns for network engineering
Ansible, Nornir, Terraform, and Python automation
How to structure an automation program from day one
Example:
Ansible Dynamic Inventory with Forward Networks — showing how to integrate verification tools with automation pipelines.
Nautobot, NetBox & Source-of-Truth Platforms
I frequently contribute to and write about Nautobot and NetBox, including plugin development, advanced use cases, and real-world deployments.
Highlighted Blog:
Updates to Nautobot’s Floor Plan Application
Detailed breakdown of new capabilities, the engineering behind them, and how they improve data center visualization and planning.
Case Study:
Joint Communication Unit Customer Story
How automation and NSoT principles improved operational efficiency for a complex DoD customer.
Air-Gapped & Highly Secure Network Automation
Drawing from hands-on DoD and federal experience, I discuss:
Automating networks disconnected from the internet
Building offline automation ecosystems
Secure deployment patterns for IaC tools
Managing packages, repos, and supply-chain security in restricted environments
RMF-aware automation approaches.
Automation Program Strategy & Maturity
I help organizations plan, structure, and scale their automation journey with a clear roadmap and governance model. Topics include:
Building an automation strategy aligned to business goals
Establishing realistic maturity stages
Creating automation standards and guardrails
Prioritizing high-impact use cases
Measuring progress and demonstrating ROI
Example:
How to shift from ad-hoc scripts to a fully governed, pipeline-driven automation program.
Open Source Community & Tooling
I contribute to and advocate for open-source tools that drive the automation ecosystem forward. I share lessons learned from building and maintaining real-world projects. Topics include:
Best practices for contributing to open source
Maintaining plugin-based ecosystems (Nautobot, NetBox, etc.)
Architecture patterns for extensible tools
Community-driven development workflows
Balancing security and openness in federal environments
Highlight:
Multiple contributions across GitHub repositories in the automation and NSoT space.
Leadership, Team Enablement & Technical Mentorship
Beyond tooling, I focus on how to grow healthy engineering teams capable of owning automation long-term. Topics include:
Building high-performing automation teams
Coaching network engineers into NetDevOps roles
Reducing friction between development and operations
Creating documentation and workflows that stick
Encouraging continuous learning without burnout
Example:
Helping teams adopt version control, code review, and collaborative automation practices.
Career Growth, Skills Development & Professional Confidence
I discuss practical ways engineers can level up their careers through focused skill-building, modern practices, and mindset shifts. Topics include:
Developing a growth mindset in technical roles
Learning Python, IaC, and automation fundamentals
Transitioning from traditional networking to NetDevOps
Navigating imposter syndrome in high-skill environments
Building confidence through hands-on projects
Example:
How engineers can break into automation by starting small and building incremental wins.